Automatic spindle lathe



June 17, 1930. F; L. CONE AUTOMATIC SPINDLE LATHE Filed July 14 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet June 17, 1930. F. L. CONE AUTOMATIC SPINDLE LATHE Filed July 14, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 1930. l CONE 1,765,130

Q AUTOMATIC SPINDLE LATHE Filed July 14, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 17, 1930. F. L. CONE AUTOMATIC SPINDLE LATHE Filed July 14 192 6 8 she ts-sheet 170/6 all! June 17,1930. F. 1.. CONE AUTOMATIC SPINDLE LATHE 8 Sheeis-Sheet Filed July 14. 1926 June 17, 193D, F. L. GONE AUTOMATIC SPINDLE LATHE Filed July 14, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet zwzl'iww,

June'1 '17; 1930. F. CONE AUTOMATIC SPINDLE LATHE Filed July 14 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 J6me,

Filed July 14, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented June 17, 1930 PATENT FRANK L. GONE, F WINDSOR, VERMONT AUTOMATIC SPINIDLE LATHE Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to metal working machines and more particularly to automatic multiple spindle lathes which are constructed to turn out a plurality of similar articles simultaneously from a corresponding number of bars of stock which are handled and turned in unison. With a machine of this type a large output of simple turned objects, such as bolts, is made possible with a single machine, thus eifecting a great saving of floor space and machinery for a given output. These economies are obtained by arranging the work-holding spindles in a vertical plane, one over the other and acting on the stock bars simultaneously with tools brought up from the side, eachset of tools performing identical and simultaneous operations on the stock bars. The actuation of the tools and other timed mechanisms is by cams carried on a single shaft directly over the spindles. This novel construction not only permits a comparatively narrow machine as awhole, but also locates the cam carriers out of the way of chips and cuttings from'the machine and in a position for ready access for adjustment or replacement.

Another feature of this machine is the construction which permits individual chucking by providing means for throwing individually into or out of operation the chucking mechanisms associated with the several spindles.

Other advantageous features and combinations will be apparent from the following description of the machine and from the drawings, of which,

Figure 1 is a front side elevation of the entire lathe.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective. showing one of the cam carriers with its follower.

Figure 5 is an end view of the lathe;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 66, 77, and 88 respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a perspective of one of the rock shaft arms whichactuate the chucking mech- 50 anism. a

192 Serial No. 122,457.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Figure 9. s

Figure 11 is an end view of the upper por tion of the lathe showing the driving mechanism.

Figure 12 is a section on the line 1212 of Figure 1. I

Figure 18 is a detail of the roller ratchet clutch in the driving mechanism.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 are sections on the lines 1414, 1515 and 1616 respectively of Figure 12.

Figure 17 is a horizontal section on the line 1717 of Figure 8.

As will be seen from Figures 1 and 8, the lathe consists essentially of a plurality of work spindles generally indicated as 20 mounted one over the other in a substantially verticalplane. In the same plane and above the axes of the spindles is the axis of the camcarrying drums 21, 22, 23 and 24, which controlrespectively the actuation of the stockfeeding means, the chucking mechanism, the tool slides, and the stock stops, these drums all being mounted on a common shaft 25. I

The cam followers associated with the various cams and a portionof the mechanism for driving the shaft 25 are supported on an upper bed 26 above the spindles and tool slides 27. All of the members thus far mentioned are supported on a lower bed 28 which in turn is mounted on a suitable standard 29. As

will be seen from Figure 2, this construction places the cam carriers at the top of the machine where they will be free from chips or cuttings from the machine and will be readily accessible for adjustmentor repair. The camcarrying shaft 25, is suitably .journaled in cross walls 30, .31, 32, 33 of the upper bed 26.

The general structure of the framework and the cam-carrying mechanism is somewhat similar to that shown and described in my patent No. 1,271,540 issued July 9, 1918.

The work spindles The workspindles may be of any standard construction such as is shown in my patent referred to; As illustrated in Figure 17, each spindle 20 is formed with a chuck 34 at one end within which is a collet 35 connected to a sleeve 36 which slides within the spindle. Slidably mounted on the spindle at its opposite end is a head 37 on which are pivoted fingers 38, the ends of which'engage on a tapered collar 39 which slides on the spindle 20. The fingers 38 are in the form of bell crank levers, each having a short arm 381 bearing against the end of a slot cut into the end of the spindle 20. When the tapered collar is slid along the spindle and spreads the fingers 38, the thrust of the short arm 381 longitudinally against the spindle 20 forces the head 37 to the left (Figure 17 the latter in turn moving a nut 40 to the left which is secured to the sleeve 36. Since the collet 35 is also secured to the sleeve 36, it is drawn into the tapered opening of the chuck 34 and is thus contracted so as to grip the stock which passes through it. Thus motion of the tapered collar 39 to the left will cause the collet to grip the stock, while motion to the right will cause the stock to be released. The tapered collar 39 is provided with a peripheral recess 41 which is engaged by the end of a block 42 slidably mounted on a stud shaft 43, a separate block 42 being provided for each work spindle. The block 42 is recessed as at 44 to receive the end of an arm 45 which is mounted on a vertical rock shaft 46. As shown in Figure 2, the shaft 46 is rocked by a crank arm 47 which is attached by a pitman 48 to a slide 49, the latter being carried by suitable brackets 50 on a side wall of the upper bed. The slide 49 also carries a cam follower 51 which is actuated by suitable cams fixed to the cam carrier23. Thus the motion of the rock shaft 46 is controlled by cams on the cam carrier 23. In Figures 9 and 10 isillustrated mechanism for connecting or disconnecting the arms 45 with the rock shaft 46. The latter is provided with a vertical slot 52 in which an end of a sliding bolt 53 is fitted to engage. The bolt 53 is slidably mounted in an end of the arm 45 and is actuable by a crank pin 54 which fits into a suitable recess cut in the side of the bolt 53 and is formed on the end of a short shaft 55. A suitable handle 56 is, provided to rock the shaft so as to move the bolt 53 into or out of engagement with the slot 52 in the rock shaft 46.' Thus by the simplemanipulation of the handle 56, the chucking mechanism for any one of the work spindles may be rendered operative or inoperative independently of the others. The work spindles as a whole are journaled in bearings which comprise complementary tapered members 57, 58, mounted in cross walls 59, 60 of the lower bed. The tapered members 57, 58 are held together'as by suitable clamps 61 which engage a cap 62 adjustably mounted on each member 57, this construction enabling a rapid removalor replacement of the entire work spindle. Keyed to each work spindle is a sprocket wheel 63, all of these sprocket wheels having a driving connection with a sprocket wheel 64 mounted on a shaft 65 which runs longitudinally of the machine and is connected with the driving gears as will be hereinafter described. As shown in Figure 7 the connecting means between the sprocket wheels 63 and 64 may be a chain 66,

the slack of which is taken up as by a suitable The stock-feeding mechanism Within each sleeve 36 (Figure 17 a stockfeeding tube 68 is slidably supported. At one end of the stock-feeding tube 68 is fixed a flanged collar 69 which fits in a recess in a plate 7 O. The plate 7 O is substantially constructed and has a plurality of such recesses, each one receiving a flanged collar 69. Mounted on the plate 70 are arms 71 which may be swung through a limited arc to engage the collar 69 and thus to retain the stock-feeding tube within the work spindle, or can be swung back to permit the complete removal of the stock-feeding tube from the machine. The plate 70 is suitably mounted for motion longitudinally of the machine, being carried by brackets 72 which are supported on guide 7 position the plate 70 is periodically moved outwardly from the end of the machine as by an edge cam 79 formed onthe cam member 21 (Figures 1 and 5). A suitable cam fol- V lower,.such as a roller 80, is mounted on the plate 70 and engages the cam 79 so that as the cam shaft 25 is rotated, the plate 70 is alternately moved outward by the cam 7 9 and back to normal position by the weights 76, the plate carrying with it stock-feeding tubes 68, these motions thus resulting in the periodic feeding of the stock carried in the tubes.

The tool slides Referring to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 8, the tool slides 27 are mounted in upper and lower transverse guideways 81, 82, so that the tool carriages approach the work from each side. As shown in Figures 8, each slide or carriage 27 is generally rectangular in shape and is heavily constructed with a thick upright portion 83 which is transversely grooved as at 84 to receive suitable tool holders 85 which are held in the groove as by clamps 86. The tool holders 85 are slidably adjustable in the grooves 84, the adjustment being made as by screws 87 which are set into the upright members 83 and engage in slots in the tool holder 85. By adjusting the screws 87, the holders 85 with the tools 88 may be properly adjusted so that the tools act uniformly on the stock held by the several spindles. The tool slides 27 as a whole are connectedby suitable linkages to vertical rock shafts 89, these comprising one or more links 90 attached to suitable bolts 91 set into the frame of each slide 27 and to arms or projections 92 formed on each rock shaft 89. The bolts 91 may be provided with suitable nuts 93 by which the position of each slide 27 may be'adjusted relatively to the position of its rock shaft 89. As shown in Figure 4, each rock shaft 89 is provided at its upper end. with a crank arm 94 which is connected by a pitman 95 to a lug 96 formed on a slide bar 97 which is carried on the side wallof the upper bed 26 asby brackets 98. Projecting inwardly from the slide bar 97 is a cam follower 99 which may comprise a roller positioned to engage cams 100 which are mounted on the cam carrier 23. The cam carrier 23 carries separate cams for the actuation of the two tool slides 27 (Fig- Stock 8250]) As previously described, the motion of the plate70 to the right while the jaws of the chuck are disengaged from the work serves to feed the stock forwardly into the machine. The throw of the plate 70 is arranged so that the stock is projected beyond its normal position for operation. The bars of stock may thus be accurately aligned. by providing a stock stop to engage their ends and. to push them back into working position. Such a stock stop 101 is shown in Figures 1 and 3. It may comprise an upright member fixed to a sliding base 102 which is mounted to slide longitudinally of the machine on a suitable guideway 103. The upright member of the stop 101 carries a plurality ofbosses 104, one for, each working spindle, which are so disposed as to be directly opposite the axes of the spindles 20.. Setinto each boss 104 is a flat-headedscrew 105 which is held in place as: by a lock nut 106., The flat heads of the screws 105 are thus adapted to engage the ends of the stock bars and tlieir'relative positions may be accurately adjusted by screwing the screws 105 in or out ofthe bosses 104. Motion longitudinally of the machine is imparted to the slide 102 as by mechanism connectingit operatively with cams on the cam carrier 24. As shown, a pitman 107 connects the slide 102'with anarm 108 formed on a vertical rock shaft 109having an upper arm 110 which carries a cam follower 111 in a position to engage the cams 112 which are on the cam carrier 24. The timing of the various cams on the cam carriers is such that when the stock is fed into the machine, the stock stop r.

thereupon moves to the left, pushing the stock bars back to their working position and accurately aligning their ends. Thereupon the chucking mechanism operates to grip the stock firmly and this action is followed by the actuation of the tool slides to operate on the work.

T he cam shaft actuating mechanism The driving mechanism for the cam shaft 25 is designed to turn the shaft successively low speed by a worm gear 117 which is con-.

nected by a worm 118 and gears 119, 120 with a short shaft 121 on which is mounted a sprocket wheel 122 driven as by a chain 123 from a sprocket wheel 124 connected by suit able gears 1240, 1241 to the main drive shaft 125 on which may be mounted a suitable pulley 126 to receive a belt 127 connecting it with any suitable source of power. The worm gear 117 is loosely mounted on the shaft 115 but may be connected in driving relation therewith by a compound clutch, one member 116 of which is splined to the shaft 115 as by a key 1161. The clutch member 116is actuated in the usual manner by a lever 1162 and slides on the shaft to bring a series of lugs 1163 on its end face into or'out of engagement with complementary lugs 1164 formed on a loosely mounted clutch member 1165. The latter is fitted into a barrel member 1166 with which it forms a ballratchet clutch. As the member 1166 is secured to the gear 117, the latter drives the shaft 115 through the ball ratchet when the lugs 1163, 1164 are engaged, but permits the shaft to be driven independently of the gear 117 at a higher rate of speed without interfering with the rotation of the gear 117. In order to drive at high speed, an annular pinion 128 is provided encircling the shaft 115 and normally carried loosely between two clutch members 129 and 130. The gear 128 meshes with a gear 131 which is fixed to a short shaft 182, this shaft being driven as by miter gears directly from the drive shaft 125. 'It isapparent that the direct gearing between the shaft 125 and the annular gear 128 will cause the latter to rotate at a considerably higher speed than the worm gear 117, hence when the annular gear 128 is gripped between the clutch members 129 and 130, it will rotate the cross shaft 115 at high speed, thus driving the'cam shaft at high speed. The clutch member 129 is in the form of a heavy collar keyed to the shaft 115 and fitted to engage a shoulder 133 formed on the shaft 115 to prevent any motion to the left along the shaft. The clutch member 130 comprises a head which is slotted to receive a plurality offingers 134 pivotally mounted therein. A sliding collar 135 is adapted to engage the ends of the fingers 134 and to rock them on their pivots, the fingers being shaped to enage a fixed collar 136 mounted on the shaft 115. The rocking of the fingers 134 on their pivotsthus forces the member 130 to the left, this member in turn pressing the gear 128 into friction engagement with the collar 129, and thus causing the clutch and the shaft 115 to turn with the gear 128. When the sliding collar 135 is moved to the right and the fingers 134 are thus allowed to returnto normal position, the clutch member 130 is pressed to the right as by springs 13'? setinto the collar 129, thus releasing the gripping engagement of the clutch on the gear 128, whereupon the shaft 115 is again driven at low speed through the ball ratchet. The high speed clutch is operated automatically by cams 138, 139 adjustably mounted on the worm gear 113. These cams successively engage a cam follower 140 carried by a cross arm 141which extends across the machine and is pivotally connected to a lever 142, the opposite end of which carries a block 143 riding in a peripheral groove 144 in the sliding collar 135. The cross bar 141 also comprises an extension 145 which projects over the side of the machine and is provided with a handle for hand operation. During automatic operation of the high speed clutch when the cam follower 140 engages the cam 138 as the gear 113 turns in a clockwise direction (Figure 12) it is moved radially toward the shaft 25, thus moving the bar. 142 to the left and the sliding collar 135 to the right and releasing the high speed clutch. The gear 113 and the shaft 25 is thereupon driven at slow speed until the cam 139 forces the cam follower 140 radially outward, thus pushing the sliding collar to the left and operatively connecting the shaft 115 with the annular gear 128 for high speed operation. In order to permit the cam mechanism to be turned over by hand when the clutch member 116 is disconnected from the gear 117, a hand wheel 146 may be provided. Since the inertia of the hand wheel 146 added to that of the shaft 115 and the parts fixed thereto is liable to cause the shaft to overrun when released from the ring gear 128, a constantly acting braking mechanism is provided comprising a brake drum 147 keyed to the shaft 115, surrounded by a brake band 148 which is preferably supplied with a suitable liner 149 and tensioned by an adjustable spring 150.

Having'described an embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that the description is by way of exemplification and not limitation, the scope of the invention be ing defined and limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of work spindles having their axes substantially in a common vertical plane, means for rotatingsaid spindles in, unison, movable tool carriages adapted to carry tools for simultaneous operation on the work, cams located above said spindles, and means actuable by said cams for moving said tool carriages toward and from the work.

2. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of work spindles having their axes in a common vertical plane, means for rotating said spindles in unison, chucks associated with said spindles, a cam disposed above said spindles, means actuable by said cam to operate said chucks, and means for selectively disconnecting individual chucks from said operating means.

3. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of hollow work spindles having their axes in a common vertical plane, means for rotating said spindles in unison, chucks associated with said spindles, a cam, means actuable by said cam to operate said chucks in unison, vertically arranged means for selectively disconnecting said chucks from said operating means, cam-actuated means for feeding stock periodically through said spindles beyond normal position for operation, cam-actuated vertically arranged means for pushing the stock back to position for operation after each feeding motion and for aligning the ends of the stock extending through the several spindles, cam-actuated tool carriers, cams for actuating said stock-feeding means, stock-aligning means, and tool carriages, a shaft carrying all said cams, the axis of said shaft being above said spindles and substantially in said vertical plane, and means for driving said shaft.

4. In a machine of the class described, a pluralityof work spindles, chucks associated with said spindles, means for automatically operating all said chucks in unison, and means associated with each individual chuck for disconnecting and connecting said chuck with said operating means.

5. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of work spindles, chucks associated with said spindles, means for automatically operating all said chucks in unison, said means including a rock shaft and a plurality of rock arms, each rock arm being operatively connected to one of said chucks and normally locked to said rock shaft, and means for severally unlocking said rock arms from said shaft 6. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of Work spindles arranged With axes in a common vertical plane, a pair of transverse slides, a tool carriage mounted on each slide, said carriages being disposed on opposite sides of said vertical plane and being independently movable toadvance tools for operation on Work held by said spindles, and

means for automatically moving said slides v and carriages.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. I FRANK L. CONE. 

